Topical Bible: Saul: King of Israel: Tries to Kill David

◄ Saul: King of Israel: Tries to Kill David ►

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Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel as chosen by God to lead His people (1 Samuel 10:1). Initially, Saul's reign was marked by military successes and a strong leadership that united the tribes of Israel. However, Saul's disobedience to God's commands led to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 15:26). This rejection set the stage for a series of events that would lead Saul to attempt to kill David, the young shepherd who would eventually succeed him as king.

David's Rise and Saul's Jealousy

David first entered Saul's service as a musician, playing the harp to soothe Saul's troubled spirit (1 Samuel 16:23). His victory over Goliath, the Philistine giant, brought him national fame and favor in the eyes of the people and Saul's own household, including Jonathan, Saul's son, who formed a deep friendship with David (1 Samuel 18:1-4). As David's popularity grew, Saul became increasingly jealous and suspicious of him. The women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7), which fueled Saul's envy and fear that David would usurp his throne.

Attempts on David's Life

Saul's jealousy soon turned into murderous intent. On several occasions, Saul attempted to kill David. The first attempt occurred when an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he hurled a spear at David while he was playing the harp, but David evaded the attack (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Saul's fear of David grew because "the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul" (1 Samuel 18:12).

Saul then plotted to have David killed by the Philistines, offering his daughter Michal in marriage to David as a snare, requiring a dangerous bride price of one hundred Philistine foreskins. David succeeded in this task, further increasing Saul's fear and hatred (1 Samuel 18:25-29).

Continued Pursuit

Despite David's loyalty and his refusal to harm Saul, Saul continued to pursue him relentlessly. Jonathan, Saul's son, intervened on David's behalf, temporarily reconciling the two (1 Samuel 19:4-7). However, Saul's hostility soon resurfaced, and he sent messengers to David's house to kill him. Michal, David's wife, helped him escape by lowering him through a window (1 Samuel 19:11-12).

David fled to various locations, including Nob, Gath, and the wilderness of Ziph, always staying one step ahead of Saul's pursuit. During this time, David had opportunities to kill Saul but refrained, respecting Saul as the LORD's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6, 26:9).

Spiritual and Moral Decline

Saul's attempts to kill David highlight his spiritual and moral decline. His disobedience to God, coupled with his inability to accept God's will in choosing David as his successor, led to a life marked by paranoia and violence. Saul's pursuit of David was not only a personal vendetta but also a tragic illustration of a king who had lost his way, consumed by jealousy and fear.

The narrative of Saul's attempts to kill David serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's guidance and the destructive nature of envy and pride. Saul's tragic end, falling on his own sword during a battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:4), underscores the futility of opposing God's sovereign plans.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 19:1
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Story of David
... his darkened tent.]. Saul, the King of Israel, sat day after day in
his darkened tent ill and full of misery. No one dared ...
//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/david the shepherd boy/the story of david.htm

Love and Remorse
... impressive as the giant form of the first king of Israel. ... the Lord, He hath also
rejected thee from being king.'. ... whether she was as much awed as Saul was, by ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love and remorse.htm

A Clearing-Up Storm in the Realm
... by the chief of the forces of Saul's house. ... When the great king comes there will
be genuine penitence ... touches history, except as history touches Israel as a ...
/.../vi a clearing-up storm in the.htm

Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ...
... we see every day, and yet no one tries to improve ... The children of Israel in old times
kept the oath that ... And King Zedekiah was destroyed utterly with his people ...
/.../iii twenty-seven articles respecting the.htm

The Sower.
... of the seed on stony ground that king Saul's faith grew ... on the throne, with the
thousands of Israel coming and ... thorns, which wound the hand that tries to pluck ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/i the sower.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... of the history of the first two kings; the one dealing with Saul, for instance ... of
Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel" (i.1 ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus.
... that he had blessed, that is cursed, God and the king. ... he goes on: "But there is
another, who tries to show ... who, when he had surprised his enemy Saul in the ...
/.../various/life and works of rufinus with jeromes apology against rufinus /

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... all the works of their pattern.' Thus, therefore, David gave to ... the sons of Jacob
nor of the house of Israel; they were the servants of Hiram, king of Tyre ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Early English Interpreters of Spiritual Religion: John Everard ...
... his pitch, some {259} againe of Saul's port, taller ... who was a religious dissenter
in King James the ... 57] Thomas Gataker's God's Eye on His Israel (1645), Preface ...
/.../chapter xiii early english interpreters.htm

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... them not be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. ... True, were Christ to plead this
before a Saul (1 Samuel 25 ... nor intended for the honour of the king, nor for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm